BC health officials say the use of non-medical masks in public settings is a good way to protect those around you. A joint statement from Health Minister Adrian Dix and public health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says masks should be used when it's difficult to keep a physical distance. Canada's public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam also says Canadians should wear masks as an added layer of protection. Dix and Henry say face coverings keep the users' droplets in but won't prevent the virus from being transmitted by others. There have been 21 new cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in the province today, u

Efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 means the British Columbia legislature will look and operate much differently next month when politicians return for a brief sitting. Premier John Horgan says he expects the legislature will resume either June 15 or June 22 to pass the budget and several pieces of legislation. The premier says he foresees some politicians from farther ridings to contribute remotely while others will be stationed in various rooms throughout the building to participate in debates and votes. Television screens are being installed throughout the legislature and Horgan sug

The B.C. government says plans to move people camped at several parks in Vancouver and Victoria into temporary housing amid the COVID-19 pandemic have been successful. Shane Simpson, the minister of social development and poverty reduction, says 600 of the most vulnerable people in the province will have moved by Wednesday from tent encampments into housing where other support services available. He says 261 people from Vancouver's Oppenheimer Park have been placed in hotels and ``rehabilitation'' of the park has begun, while 308 people have moved into temporary housing from Topaz and Pandora

Plans for a Surrey City Centre YMCA will not proceed, the result of escalating construction costs. The project, a development partnership between the YMCA of Greater Vancouver and Simon Fraser University, with support from the City of Surrey, was to include a YMCA-SFU facility and high-density residential housing on the university’s Surrey property. Since the project was first conceived by the YMCA and City of Surrey six years ago, costs have climbed to $75 million.Recognizing the important role a YMCA could play in the growing Surrey City Centre neighbourhood, Surrey and the YMCA each commi

Quebec says limited outdoor gatherings will be permitted starting Friday as the province continues to record a downward trend of new COVID-19 cases. Deputy premier and Public Security Minister Genevieve Guilbault also announced today that dentist offices across the province, and hair salons outside the Montreal and Joliette regions can reopen on June 1. Guilbault says Quebecers will be allowed to host outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, from a maximum of three families, as long as they keep a two-metre distance from one another. She says the province recorded 71 new deaths from COVID-19, f

Canada's chief public health officer says there has been a social, cultural shift around the wearing of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. After first suggesting wearing a mask, Dr. Theresa Tam is now recommending covering your face when maintaining physical distance might not be possible. She says thinking it of as protecting each other from being exposed to the virus is a key concept for Canadians. Dr. Tam is again stressing that for summer, outside activities are better than inside and keeping a physical distance and hand washing will continue to be key.

The City of Surrey has announced Surrey Canada Day will be hosted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic and consideration for public health and safety. Virtual Surrey Canada Day will take place on July 1 and will be broadcasted on Facebook and YouTube Live. Hosted by four-time Olympic gold medalist, Hayley Wickenheiser, this year’s free family-friendly virtual event will feature a series of segments including, musical entertainment, virtual tours, indigenous and cultural acts, a “Family Hour” for kids and seniors, dance lessons, a rodeo tribute, and a virtual firework finale to end the

Celestica Inc. has been contracted to build 7,500 ventilators in Newmarket, Ont., for a Canadian medical device company working on the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.Financial terms of its contract with StarFish Medical Inc. weren't announced.Celestica says it intends to deliver the medical devices for treating patients with breathing problems to Health Canada in the fourth quarter of 2020.Celestica is a Toronto-based company with a global business that manufactures equipment for a variety of industries including health care, aerospace and information technology.Starfish is one of several

Large companies that receive bridge financing through a new federal loan program will have to give the government the option to take an ownership stake, or provide a cash equivalent.Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the terms will be the same for any company asking for help through the program that opens for applications today.He says the terms are designed to make sure companies using the program receive bridge loans, not bailouts, to get through COVID-19's economic disruptions.The Liberals have said the loans would be on commercial terms, and require companies to have already gone to banks